Tuition & Financial Information

Gaston College, supported by the taxpayers of North Carolina, Gaston County and Lincoln County, maintains modest instructional and general fees, which are subject to change by the state of North Carolina and the Board of Trustees of Gaston College.

Please visit the Business Office webpage for payment, refund, collection and transcript policies.

Cost to Attend

Gaston College Tuition and Fee Amounts are listed below:

Tuition 

Fees 

*A student activity fee is not charged for the summer semester.

Other Fees 

Test Fees 

Right To Change Fees

All college fees are subject to change without notice.

Tuition Exceptions

Career and College Promise:

Students enrolled in High School who are taking college courses (dual enrollment students) pay no tuition except for continuing education classes. All other fees apply.

Senior Citizens:

Legal residents of North Carolina 65 or older may be waived from paying tuition and registration fees for up to six hours of credit instruction and one course of noncredit instruction per academic semester (excluding self-supporting classes).

Refund Policy

Curriculum Programs

A pre-registered student who officially drops from a curriculum class prior to the first day of the semester will be eligible for a 100 percent tuition refund.

Refunds are made up to the 10 percent date of the semester. Once the semester has begun, a 75 percent refund will be granted up to the 10 percent date. Refunds are not given after that date. To find out the exact 10 percent date, see the Office of Records and Registration. If a course fails to materialize, refunds are automatically processed. (The refund policy is subject to change. Refunds of tuition will be issued in accordance with the current state and college policy. Refund checks will be mailed by the Business Office within six weeks of the last drop-add day.)

Economic and Workforce Development

If a student drops from a state supported class or classes before the 10 percent date of class(es), a 75 percent tuition refund will be given for the class(es) dropped. A 100% refund will be made if the student withdraws from the class prior to the class start date. No refunds will be given after the 10 percent date. If a course fails to materialize, refunds are automatically processed. (The refund policy is subject to change. Refunds of tuition will be issued in accordance with the current state and college policy. Refund checks will be mailed within six weeks of class cancellation or notification of withdrawal from the class.)

Accident Insurance

Gaston College does not have insurance to cover students if they are injured on Gaston College campuses or in a college-related activity. (Insurance is available to students while enrolled in selected classes or programs) It is advisable, therefore, that students, especially those in areas that could be considered to be potentially hazardous, make certain they have appropriate coverage under a personal accident policy or that of a parent.

Financial Aid (Applies to Curriculum Students Only)

Financial Aid Philosophy - The Department of Education and Gaston College maintain the view that the primary responsibility for providing educational expenses rests with the student and the student’s parents. However, students who cannot provide the entire cost, and demonstrate real financial need, may obtain monetary assistance through the Financial Aid Office. Financial Aid is used to supplement the student’s and family’s resources, not replace them. Parents are expected to contribute to the cost of education to the extent that they are able, taking into account their income, assets, number of children in college, and other relevant information. Students are also expected to contribute from their own assets and earnings.

Financial Aid is distributed at Gaston College without regard to race, sex, religion, national origin, age, or disability. Gaston College is an equal opportunity educational institution.

Types of Financial Aid

All Financial Aid programs fall into one of two categories: gifts and work. Gift assistance includes grants and scholarships, and does not have to be repaid provided that the student receiving financial aid attends classes through the 60% point of the semester and maintains Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress Standards and Policies (available online or in the Financial Aid Office). Work is a self-help program that enables students to pay part of their expenses through their own earnings. The work-study program gives students the opportunity to work and earn money at or above the current minimum wage. 

Application Procedure

Students entering Gaston College in need of financial aid are requested to follow this application procedure:

1. After the application for admission has been submitted (see the Office of Admissions), the student should complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
2. Students should submit their FAFSA information on the Internet at www.fafsa.ed.gov using Gaston College school code #002973. It takes 4-6 weeks to process a complete file. It is to the student’s advantage to apply as early as possible for financial assistance several weeks before the student registers for classes.
3. In addition, the student should submit other documentation if requested by the Financial Aid Office. Additional documentation includes the Gaston College Financial Aid Application, the Verification Form, and other financial information.
4. Students interested in scholarships and/or work-study must submit separate applications. Gaston College Foundation Scholarship Applications must be completed online through STARS, which is located on the college’s home page each year during January – March 31. The Work-Study Application is available online in the Financial Aid forms section on the college web page or in the Financial Aid Office.

Applicants may apply for a scholarship, grant, work-study, or any combination of these. The total combined sum of these must not exceed total financial need. The awarding of aid is based on funds available. Students will be notified of their financial aid eligibility via their WebAdvisor account, and first-time enrolled students will be sent an award notification letter. The award letter will state the type and amount of award. Students should retain their copy of the award notification letter for their records. If the student does not plan to enroll or use their financial aid award at Gaston College, the student should notify the financial aid office immediately.

In the event that a student receiving federal aid completely withdraws from the institution and stops attending all of their classes prior to the 60% point of the semester, the student will be responsible for repayment of a prorated amount of any portion of payments that were extended to the student for living expenses and that would no longer be attributed to meeting expenses related to attendance. Financial Aid does not pay for audited courses, credit-by-exam, or certificate courses/programs. If the student never attends a class(es), the student is not eligible to receive financial aid for the class(es) and will be responsible for repayment and billed for the aid in which they became ineligible. It is the student’s responsibility to complete the necessary forms in the Registrar’s Office to drop or withdraw. If the student never attends their class(es) and does not officially drop or withdraw, the student is still responsible for the payment of their tuition, fees, and/or books. In addition, the student may not be entitled to their Gaston College financial aid award(s) if they have received all or part of the awards at another institution prior to enrolling at Gaston College.

The student has the obligation to read, understand and maintain the “Satisfactory Academic Progress Standards” as defined specifically for financial aid recipients. The student’s failure to read and understand the Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress Standards and Policies does not release the student from their responsibilities. Failure to maintain academic progress will result in the loss of eligibility for financial aid. Eligibility may be regained unless the student has exceeded his or her eligibility to receive federal aid. Student coursework must be restricted to the major that is on file in the Office of Records and Registration. Courses taken outside of the approved major may require adjustment to the financial aid award. Financial aid will pay for repeated courses as long as it falls within the college’s repeat policy guidelines. However, Financial Aid will not pay for excessive repeats beyond this policy nor will it pay for repeated courses that are not necessary to complete the student’s major (i.e., courses that have been repeated twice and successfully passed/completed, or Elective Courses). In addition, Financial Aid will pay for remedial/developmental courses up to a maximum of 30 credit hours.

Student Responsibilities:

• Review and consider all information about the College’s programs before enrolling.
• Apply/re-apply for financial assistance EACH year by submitting the FAFSA – preferably by the Gaston College Financial Aid Office April 30 priority deadline - for the upcoming school year.
• Return all required documentation to the Financial Aid Office of CFI as instructed.
• Read and understand all forms before signing them and keep copies of all forms.
• Notify the lender of previous student loans of changes in name, address, and school status.
• Perform the work that is agreed upon in accepting a College work-study award.
• Notify the Financial Aid Office in writing about additional income not reported on aid application.
• Express written appreciation to any scholarship donor for Gaston College Foundation Scholarships awarded.
• Understand and maintain Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress Standards in order to continue to receive financial aid. Students are not considered to be making satisfactory academic progress if they do not maintain at least a 2.00 GPA each semester.
• Contact the Financial Aid Office before withdrawing from school or changing course schedule.
• Officially drop or withdraw from a class(es) that the student registered for but is not attending even if that student applied for and/or received financial aid. Students cannot assume that automatic drops or withdrawals will be performed for them in the event that they do not pay for their registration fees.
• Notify the Financial Aid Office immediately if the student rejects any/all financial aid that his/her have been awarded.
• Notify the Financial Aid Office if the student has attended and received federal aid at another institution during the school year.
• Make sure that your legal name, as it appears on your Social Security card, is on file with the Office of Records and Registration (via your WebAdvisor Account) and is the name you use on your FAFSA application.
• Make sure that your correct mailing address and current phone number are on file with the Office of Records and Registration (via your WebAdvisor Account) in order to properly receive correspondence and/or refund checks (if applicable) that are mailed to you.
• Use financial aid funds for educationally related expenses.  

Scholarships

Gaston College and the Gaston College Foundation offer a variety of scholarships ranging in value from $250 to $2,500 per academic year. Foundation scholarships are donated by civic clubs, foundations, friends of the college, and local businesses. Applicants are considered for all scholarships for which they qualify. Gaston College Foundation scholarship applicants must satisfy all Gaston College admissions requirements, including any required placement tests for their program of study. Applicants must submit the FAFSA using Gaston College’s school code #002973 in addition to completing a Gaston College Foundation Scholarship Application online through STARS located on the college’s home page each year during January – March 31. Completed applications must be submitted online EACH year by March 31st. Information about student financial aid and scholarships may be obtained on the Gaston College web page or from the Financial Aid Office located in the Myers Center on the Dallas Campus, in the Student Services Office on the Lincoln Campus and Kimbrell Campus in Belmont. A full listing of Gaston College Foundation Scholarships can be obtained in Financial Aid on the Gaston College web page (www.gaston.edu).

College, State, and Federal Awards

• College Work-Study Program (Federal/Institutional)
• Federal Pell Grant Program
• Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant
• Gaston College Foundation Scholarships
• Gaston College Academic Scholarships (Management Honors & Careers)
• North Carolina Community College Grant
• North Carolina Education Lottery Scholarship
• North Carolina Nurse Education Scholarship Loan Program (NESLP)
• North Carolina Nurse Scholars Program (NSP)
• North Carolina Student Loan Program for Health, Science, and Mathematics
• Wells Fargo Technical Scholarship

For additional programs or more information regarding financial aid, please refer to the Gaston College catalog, web page, or contact the Financial Aid Office.

Resident Status for Tuition Payments

Students who are not North Carolina residents pay out-of-state tuition for credit (degree) classes. A student’s official residency status is determined at the time they complete the admissions application according to the residency policy of the state of North Carolina, the North Carolina Community College System, and the Gaston College Board of Trustees. In order for a student to be considered a legal resident for tuition purposes, the applicant’s residency must be established and maintained in North Carolina for at least twelve months preceding the date of enrollment. Immigrants lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence may establish North Carolina residence in the same manner as any other non-resident.

The legal residence of a person under 18 years of age is that of his or her parents, surviving parent, or legal guardian. In cases where parents are divorced or legally separated, the minor’s domicile is deemed to be North Carolina for the time period that either parent, as a North Carolina legal resident, claims the minor as a taxable dependent.

A change of address does not automatically entitle a student to pay the same tuition as a North Carolina resident. A request to change one’s residency status must be submitted to the Admissions Office prior to registration. More information on residency requirements may be obtained from the Office of Admission.

Veterans Benefits

Any honorably discharged veteran who served on active duty for at least 181 consecutive days (not including “active duty for training purposes”) may be eligible for educational benefits. Eligibility is established by the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA). Eligibility remains in effect until consumed or ten years from active duty release date for Chapter 30 recipients and 15 years for Chapter 33 recipients. Students serving in the Reserves may also be eligible for benefits. Please contact the Veterans Specialist on campus for details.

Applicants for educational benefits must fulfill all requirements for general admission. In addition, transfer applicants must submit for evaluation transcripts from all other post-secondary institutions attended.

By law, no certification can be sent to the DVA Regional Office for any course or program until all of the admission requirements have been completed.

Eligibility may apply to widows or widowers of deceased veterans, spouses of living veterans, and children of either who are between 18 and 26 years of age when the death or permanent disability, resulting from service in the Armed Forces, occurs.

Educational benefits are provided under the provisions of Chapter 30, 31,33, or 35 of Title 38 of the U.S. Code and Chapter 1606 and 1607 of Title 10 of the U.S. Code.

Marks of ‘WA’ (Withdrawal), ‘WI’ (Withdrawal by Instructor), ‘AU’ (Audit), ‘NS’ (No Show), and ‘CE’ (Credit by Examination) are not accepted by the Department of Veterans Affairs for payment purposes.

All questions and problems pertaining to eligibility, certification of programs, and payment should be directed to the Veterans Affairs Office.